Transcript Role of education in rebuilding lives from disasters

Role of education in rebuilding
lives from disasters
Shailaja, R and Kartikeya V. Sarabhai
Centre for Environment Education (CEE)
Ahmedabad , India
Natural disasters and sustainable development
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Natural disasters in India have
increased the risks of
communities - the poor in
recent years.
Sustainable development and
disaster risk management are
mutually supportive goals.
ESD plays a major role in
disaster risk reduction to
reduce the losses and also in
the reconstruction process.
CEE Initiatives
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Rebuilding Hope - Initiated following
the earthquake in Gujarat in the
Western India in 2001 - stability
and sustainability phase
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Rebuilding Lives - Initiated in the
Southern India in 2005, following the
devastation by the Asian tsunami on
26th December 2004 - rehabilitation
phase
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Rebuilding Trust - Initiated in Jammu
and Kashmir in the Himalayan
region following the earthquake on 8
October 2005 - recovery phase
Reconstruction interventions
Major interventions addressed
 Shelter, Livelihood, Water-sanitation and health, Disaster preparedness
Stakeholders addressed
 Communities, Governmental agencies, Non-governmental agencies
 Donors, Educational institutions and youth, Development professionals.
CEE has cautiously tried to integrate the principles and the processes of
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in all these interventions.
Approaches adopted
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Meetings and focus group
discussions
Short term skill and leadership
trainings to communities - women in
particular
Demonstrations of sustainable
technologies and practices
Long term training for young
development professionals
Development of information support
system, mobile exhibitions, various
EE materials
Coordination and networking
Advocacy
Tsunami reconstruction
A case study
20 villages covering 8 agricultural villages and 12 fishing villages
The impact of tsunami
Land affected : 650 hectares
Soil recovery period : 3 years
Habitat destruction: Shore line
erosion, Sea water intrusion,
flat sand bars, decrease in
marine resources
Population affected: About 80%
Deaths: More than 500 people
People displaced : More than 5000
Estimated loss: More than INR 60 corers
or 12.5 million $
The changing scenario
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Emergency response from Central and State governments, Civil societies,
International agencies for relief and rehabilitation activities.
Lack of consideration of the concept of sustainable development has resulted in
several unsustainable practices changing socio economic structure and also the
resource base.
Efforts to restore livelihood of fishermen have resulted in enormous increase in
boats and gears leading to over exploitation of marine resources
Catamarans are displaced by Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats due to the
perception of donors that catamarans are primitive which are finely evolved safe
crafts made of soft wood, unsinkable and good for surf beaten coasts
With dwindling marine resources and increasing fishing craft, further erosion will
lead to unsustainable livelihoods
In India, unsustainable interventions in disaster management programmes have
disturbed the socio-economic conditions of communities, created disparities and
put pressure on the natural resources thus increasing environmental vulnerability.
Integration of ESD in reconstruction
interventions
The objectives
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To rebuild hope and confidence in affected people to cope up with
and recover from the shocks and trauma of disasters
To strengthen the role of communities to enhance community
participation
To influence decisions makers through advocacy for effective
policies
To sensitize donors to the need for medium term and long-term
goals and continued support to achieve the goals of sustainable
development
To network with stakeholders to exchange information and
experiences, and better coordination of rebuilding efforts to
promote efficient resource use
The programme plan
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Rapid need assessment to analyse the situation
pre and post tsunami
Planning process and practices leading to
Sustainable Development.
Identifying educational interventions
Integrating ESD in the plan as a toll to promote SD
Reclamation of water bodies
Canals / ponds have been desilted, bunded and planted involving community
 It has provided livelihood for the affected agricultural families
 It has demonstrated draining of flood water to sea and improvement in the
irrigation efficiency
Reclamation of water bodies today has become a regular activity in
these villages from the point of flood control and soil water
conservation leading to Sustainable Development
Livelihoods
Land reclamation
salt tolerant paddy cultivation,
green manure gypsum application
improved seed production and
storage technique demonstrations
have motivated the farmers to
adopt these techniques and
speeding up recovery process.
Awareness, Meetings and
discussions, field demonstrations,
skill training, liaison/advocacy
with the agricultural department
are some of the
methods used.
Alternate livelihood
Facilitating and promoting land and
sea based alternate livelihood
options for medium and long term
food security and livelihood
sustainability leading to improved
economic conditions and quality of
life
Activities
Jellyfish processing, Manufacturing
of Incense sticks, Poultry farming,
Seaweed cultivation, Crab
flattening. This includes technical
Support, Training and capacity
building and also some
infrastructure support
Housing
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Multi-hazard proof, environmentally sound
houses for safe living in an island
Hygienic disposal of excreta by providing
toilets suitable to coastal conditions
Promoting smokeless and fuel efficient
cook stoves to reduce indoor air pollution
Promoting waste (solid and liquid)
management in the community to reduce
ground water pollution
Capacity building to promote construction
related livelihood options
Water and sanitation
Awareness and education
programme on health & hygiene
practices with special reference to
water and sanitation issues
using door to door campaigns,
demonstrations, simple hands on
activities, training
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for Schools emphasizing on
the sanitation practices
for Community to motivate
them to achieve total sanitation
in their village
for women Self Help Group
members to sustain the
practices.
Disaster preparedness
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These coastal areas are prone to
frequent cyclones, storm surges,
resulting in significant life, livelihood
and property losses
Habitat degradation due to tsunami has
also increased the vulnerability.
Preparing community in risk
management will minimize the losses
and sufferings, and help to speed up
recovery and rehabilitation processes.
We plan to strengthen the roles and
responsibilities of the local
communities, local authorities and other
stakeholders in risk reduction through
Information, Education and
Communication (IEC), planting shelter
belts and habitat
protection
Education for Sustainable Development
One of the most difficult and important
issues in rehabilitation is how do you help
people without taking initiative away from
them. It is very easy to come, intending to do
good work and make a community which
otherwise is entrepreneurial and full of
life into a dependent community
– Kartikeya Sarabhai
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ESD has helped in planning rebuilding
processes and disaster preparedness
strategies for a sustainable future.
ESD has ensured integrated and community
centered approaches thus building up a sense
of ownership among people, ensuring self
reliance, maximizing community relationships,
tapping community knowledge and building
local networks.
ESD is imperative for speedy and effective
planning, coordination and implementation of
immediate, medium and long term recovery
and rehabilitation measures in an
environmentally sound manner